Parts arranger

ABSTRACT

A parts arranger comprising a rotating disk (4) which has a plurality of part accommodating holes (6) for accommodating screws (5) arranged in a circumferential row or a plurality of concentric rows and is supported in a condition inclined at a predetermined angle θ relative to a horizontal plane, a circumference guide (7) which is disposed along an outer circumference of the rotating disk (4) so as to be substantially perpendicular to a surface of the rotating disk, and a stepping motor (1) which rotates the rotating disk (4) at a predetermined angle in a normal direction and then at a predetermined angle in a reverse direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a parts arranger which arranges partsto enable successive feeding in assembly works or preparations formachining works.

BACKGROUND ART

There is known a parts arranger which is composed, as disclosed byJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-99823, of a rotating diskhaving a large number of accommodating holes formed so as to correspondto a shape of parts at intervals in a circumferential direction, adriving source for rotatingly driving the rotating disk in a conditionwhere it is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to a horizontalplane, and a circumference guide which is disposed around an outercircumference of the rotating disk and close to an outer circumferenceof the rotating disk, and has an inner circumferential surfacesubstantially perpendicular to a surface of the rotating disk.

When the rotating disk is continuously rotated in a direction by thedriving source and parts are disposed on the rotating disk in the partsarranger having the configuration described above, the parts are rolledand the rotating disk gives centrifugal forces to the rolling parts,whereby the parts are collected in the vicinity of the circumferenceguide and moved circularly along the inner circumferential surface ofthe circumference guide. The parts which are moved circularly are tiltedand their directions are changed due to frictional contact with thesurface of the rotating disk. When attitudes of the parts are matchedwith directions of the large number of accommodating holes, the partsfit into the accommodating holes by their own weights and are arrangedaccordingly.

The known parts arranger which has the configuration described above ispractically usable with no substantial problem when the parts have arelatively large shape and may not be accommodated in a restricteddirection. When parts such as fine screws are to be arranged verticallywith their heads kept upward, for example, it is extremely difficult toarrange the screws with the parts arranger since the screws have centersof gravity in their heads in most cases. For stable arranging andaccommodating such screws, it is necessary to rotate the rotating disk alarge number of turns so as to extremely increase occasions when thescrews fit into the accommodating holes, thereby posing problems torequire a long time for arranging the parts, prolong a time for theentire assembling or machining work and enhance a cost for the work.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to solve these problems, orto provide a parts arranger which is capable of performing partsarrangement in a short time.

For accomplishing this object, the parts arranger according to thepresent invention comprises a rotating disk which has a plurality ofparts accommodating holes formed in a circumferential row or a pluralityof concentric rows and is supported in a condition where it is inclinedat a predetermined angle relative to a horizontal plane, and acircumference guide which is disposed along an outer circumference ofthe rotating disk and substantially perpendicular to the rotating disk,and is characterized in that the parts arranger further comprises adriving source which rotates the rotating disk at a predetermined anglein a normal direction and sequentially rotates it at a predeterminedangle in a reverse direction.

The parts arranger which has the configuration described above iscapable of springing up parts and incessantly changing attitudes of theparts on the rotating disk by driving the rotating disk in both thenormal and reverse directions at the predetermined angles with thedriving source. Accordingly, the parts arranger according to the presentinvention increases occasions when parts fit into the accommodatingholes as compared with the case where the rotating disk is rotated onlyin one direction, thereby making it possible to arrange parts in ashorter time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a first embodiment of the partsarranger according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is plan view illustrating the first embodiment of the partsarranger according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating main members of the rotating disk ofthe parts arranger according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a second embodiment of the partsarranger according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a third embodiment of the partsarranger according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are a side view illustrating main members of afourth embodiment of the parts arranger according to the presentinvention and a plan view illustrating main members of a rotating diskused in this embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, embodiments of the parts arranger according to the presentinvention, or parts arrangers which arrange and feed screws, will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First Embodiment)

The first embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 through 3.

In FIG. 1, a reference numeral 1 represents a stepping motor which canrotate repeatedly in a normal and reverse directions, and is fixed witha plurality of bolts 1A to a disk 8 disposed in a condition inclined θ°relative to a horizontal plane. A rotating force of the stepping motor 1is transmitted to a mounting head 3 which is fixed to a driving shaft 2of the stepping motor 1.

A rotating disk 4 which has a shape substantially the same as that ofthe disk 8 is replaceably mounted on a top surface of the mounting head3 with a plurality of bolts 3A.

In the configuration described above, the rotating disk 4 is supportedby the stepping motor 1 in a condition inclined θ° relative to thehorizontal plate as shown in FIG. 1 and is rotated by turning themounting head 3 with the stepping motor 1.

Further, a plurality of accommodating holes 6 corresponding to a shapeof a screw 5 are formed in a circumferential portion of a surface of therotating disk 4 at intervals of a pitch angle of α° in a circumferentialdirection as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the first embodiment, 60accommodating holes 6 (A-0, B-0, C-0, A-1, B-1, C-1, . . . A-19, B-19,C-19) are formed at a pitch angle of 6° in the rotating disk 4.

Further, an arc-shaped circumference guide 7 which has an innercircumferential surface substantially perpendicular to the surface ofthe rotating disk 4 is disposed around the rotating disk 4 in thevicinity of an outer circumference thereof and fixed to an outercircumference of the disk 8.

Furthermore, an uppermost point 9 of the rotating disk 4 is used as apoint for feeding the screw 5 and a proximity sensor 11 is disposed onthe disk 8 at a location corresponding to the uppermost point 9 fordetecting presence or absence of the screw 5 is in the accommodatinghole 6 positioned to the uppermost point 9, and an adsorbing head 12which adsorbs and takes out the screw 5 is disposed over the uppermostpoint 9.

Description will be made of a driving method for the stepping motor 1,or a driving method for the rotating disk 4.

The stepping motor 1 rotates the rotating disk 4 at an angle of φ° in anormal direction indicated by an arrow F in FIG. 2 and then rotates itat an angle of φ° (<φ°) in a reverse direction indicated by an arrow R.Since the rotating angles are set as described above, the rotating disk4 is displaced at an angle of (φ°-φ°) by a cycle of driving motionconsisting of the normal rotation and the reverse rotation of thestepping motor 1. In the first embodiment, the angle φ° and the angle φ°are set at integral times of the pitch angle α°.

When α°=6°, θ°=20 to 30°, φ°=18° and φ°=12°, for example, the rotatingdisk 4 is rotated at the pitch angle (6°), or (18°-12°), by a cycle ofdriving motion consisting of the normal rotation at three pitch anglesand the reverse rotation at two pitch angles.

Explanation will be made of the parts arranger which is configured asdescribed above.

When screws 13 are placed on the rotating disk 4, the screws 13 areaccumulated on a lower portion of the rotating disk 4 as indicated byslash lines in FIG. 1 due to the inclination φ° of the rotating disk 4,thereby forming a screw haunt 10.

The screws 13 accumulated in the screw haunt 10 are tilted and changedin attitudes thereof many times as the rotating disk 4 is rotatinglydriven in the two normal and reverse directions. Accordingly, attitudesof the screws 13 are coincident with directions of the large number ofaccommodating holes 6, whereby the screws 13 fit into the accommodatingholes 6 by their own weights and are stable in conditions like that ofthe screw 5. Further, the screws 13 which do not fit into theaccommodating holes 6 and the screws 13 which fit the holes from theirheads are shaken down from the accommodating holes 6 by the normal andreverse rotations of the rotating disk 4, and due to the inclination φ°returned to the screw haunt 10 and repeatedly are given occasions to fitinto the accommodating holes 6.

By a cycle of driving motion consisting of the normal rotation at threepitch angles and the reverse rotation at two pitch angles, the rotatingdisk 4 is rotated at a pitch angle (6°), or (18°-12°), and theaccommodating holes 6 are displaced at a pitch angle in thecircumferential direction.

The proximity sensor 11 confirms presence or absence of the screw 5 inone of the accommodating holes 6 positioned to the feeding point, orhaving reached the uppermost point of the inclined rotating disk 4.

When the proximity sensor 11 confirms that the screw 5 is present, theadsorbing head 12 takes out the screw 5 after adsorption. When theproximity sensor 11 confirms that the screw 5 is absent, the rotatingdisk 4 is rotated in steps of the pitch angle α° or a multiple of α°until the proximity switch 11 confirms presence of the screw 5, therebyrealizing stable feeding of the screw 5. After the screw 5 is taken out,the rotating disk 4 is rotatingly driven in the two normal and reversedirections, and the next accommodating hole 6 attains and is positionedto the uppermost point 9.

By rotatingly driving the rotating disk 4 in the two normal and reversedirections as described above, it is possible to spring up the screws 13and incessantly change attitudes thereof on the rotating disk 4.Accordingly, the parts arranger according to the present inventionallows the screws 13 to be fitted into accommodating holes 6 at moreoccasions than those available by rotating the rotating disk 4 in onedirection and can arrange parts in a shorter time, thereby making itpossible to reduce a time required for an entire work such as assemblyor machining and lower a cost for the work.

Further, the parts arranger according to the present invention iscapable of feeding and positioning the screw 5 to the feeding point forthe screw 5 since it uses the proximity sensor 11 for detecting presenceor absence of the screw 5 in the accommodating hole 6 and rotates therotating disk 4 until the proximity sensor 11 detects presence of thescrew 5.

Another driving method for the stepping motor 1 will be described below.

The stepping motor 1 rotates the rotating disk 4 at an angle of φ° inthe normal direction indicated by the arrow F and the reverse directionindicated by the arrow R respectively in FIG. 2, and then rotates thedisk at an angle of φ° in the normal direction. When the angles are setas described above, the rotating disk 4 is displaced at the angle φ° bya cycle of driving motion consisting of the rotations in the two normaland reverse directions, and the rotation in the normal direction. Inthis embodiment, the angle θ° and the angle θ° are set at integral timesof a pitch angle α°.

When α°=6°, θ°=20 to 30°, φ°=12° and φ°=18°, for example, the rotatingdisk 4 is rotated finally at three pitch angles (18°) by a cycle ofdriving motion consisting of the normal rotation and the reverserotation each corresponding to two pitch angles, and the normal rotationcorresponding to three pitch angles. When the rotating disk 4 is rotatedas described above, an accommodating hole A-0 shown in FIG. 3 returnsagain to the uppermost point 9 upon completing the twentieth motion andaccommodating holes B-0, B-1, . . . C-0, C-1, . . . which are adjacentsequentially to the holes A-0, A-1, A-2 cannot be positioned to theuppermost point 9. In the embodiment, φ° is set at 24° for the twentiethmotion only so that all the accommodating holes 6 are positioned to theuppermost point 9 after completing three turns. When the angles are setas described above, each of the accommodating holes 6 passes through thescrew haunt 10 a larger number of times, whereby the screws 13 haslarger occasions to be fitted and arranged into the accommodating hole6.

When the stepping motor 1 is driven by the method described above, itrotates the rotating disk 4 a plurality of turns (three turns in thisembodiment) until one accommodating hole 6 is positioned to theuppermost point 9, whereby the screw 5 is fitted into the accommodatingholes 6 at more occasions than those available by turning the rotatingdisk 4 only in one direction and parts can be arranged in a shortertime.

In the first embodiment described above, the screw 5 fits into theaccommodating 6 in a slanted attitude at the uppermost point 9 as shownin FIG. 1 and the adsorbing head 12 is supported in a slanted attitudeso that it adsorbs and takes out the screw 5 in an oblique direction.When the screw 5 and the adsorbing head 12 are supported in such slantedattitudes, however, it is rather hard to handle and take out the screw 5without fail by the adsorbing head 12, and when the adsorbing head 12fails to take out the screw 5 or drops it, it is necessary to rotate therotating disk 4 once again for adsorbing another screw, thereby loweringa working efficiency. Accordingly, it is desirable to set the screw 5 atits vertical attitude and adsorb it vertically. Second through fourthembodiments which are described below are configured to verticallyadsorb and take out the screw 5.

(Second Embodiment)

The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Onlydifferences from the first embodiment will be described.

In the second embodiment which is configured to keep a screw 5 in itsvertical attitude in an accommodating hole 6 positioned to the uppermostpoint 9, a rotating disk 4A which is rotatingly driven by a steppingmotor 1 is made of an elastic material having a restoring force such asurethane rubber or thin a metal sheet and a plurality of rollers 21 aredisposed for pressing the rotating disk 4A from above to bend it so asto form a horizontal surface at an uppermost point 9. After passing bythe plurality of the rollers 21, the rotating disk 4A resumes a flatsurface by its restoring force.

Guide members may be used in place of the rollers. Further, a singleroller 21 may be used. Furthermore, it is possible to facilitate to fitscrews 13 by disposing a plurality of rollers which push up the rotatingdisk 4A from downside so as to form a horizontal surface at a locationsymmetrical with the uppermost point 9.

Since the uppermost point 9 is located on the horizontal surface formedby the function of the rollers 21, the screw 5 fitted in theaccommodating hole 6 positioned to the uppermost point 9 is kept in itsvertical attitude. In correspondence to the attitude of the screw 5, anadsorbing head 12 is vertically disposed over the screw 5 (over theuppermost point 9 located on the horizontal surface). For horizontallysupporting a proximity sensor 11 which detects presence or absence ofthe screw 5 in the accommodating hole 6 positioned to the uppermostpoint 9, a location of a disk 8A opposed to the uppermost point 9 isformed as a horizontal surface.

A driving method for the rotating disk 4A, and operations for arrangingand taking out the screw 5 are quite similar to those in the firstembodiment described above and will not be explained in particular.

When the rotating disk 4A is rotatingly driven in the two normal andreverse directions at short cycles as described above, parts can bearranged in a short time and a time required for an entire work such asassembly or machining can be shortened. When the screw 5 fitted in theaccommodating hole 6 positioned to the uppermost point 9 is kept in itsvertical attitude by forming the horizontal surface on the rotating disk4A positioned to the uppermost point 9, and the screw 5 is adsorbed andtaken out vertically by the adsorbing head 12, the screw 5 can behandled without fail and a working efficiency can be enhanced.

(Third Embodiment)

The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5.Description will be made only of differences from the first embodiment.

For keeping a screw 5 in its vertical attitude when fitted in anaccommodating hole 6 positioned to an uppermost point 9, a rotating disk4B which is rotatingly driven by a stepping motor 1 is formed in an arcshape and fixed to the stepping motor 1 so that it has a horizontaltangential line at a location of the accommodating hole 6 positioned tothe uppermost point 9.

Owing to this shape of the rotating disk 4B, the accommodating hole 6positioned to the uppermost point 9 is horizontally set and the screw 5fitted in the accommodating hole 6 positioned to the uppermost point 9is kept in its vertical attitude. In correspondence to this attitude ofthe screw 5, an adsorbing head 12 is vertically disposed over the screw5 (over the uppermost point 9 located on a horizontal surface).

A driving method for the rotating disk 4B, and motions for arranging andtaking out the screw 5 are the same as those in the first embodiment andwill not be described in particular.

When the rotating disk 4B is rotatingly driven in the two normal andreverse directions at short cycles, parts can be arranged in a shorttime and a time required for an entire work such as assembly ormachining can be shortened. When the screw 5 fitted in the accommodatinghole 6 positioned to the uppermost point 9 is kept in its verticalattitude, and vertically adsorbed and taken out by the adsorbing head12, the screw 5 can be handled without fail and a working efficiency canbe enhanced.

Further, the third embodiment permits optionally changing an inclinationangle of the accommodating hole 6 by modifying a location of theaccommodating hole 6 in the rotating disk 4B.

(Fourth Embodiment)

The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6(a) and6(b). Only differences from the first embodiment will be described.

In the fourth embodiment, accommodating holes 6A of the rotating disk 4Care formed as notches which are open on a side of an outercircumference, and a rotating disk 4C having these accommodating holes6A is formed so as to have an outer circumference 23 which is madehorizontal at a lower end thereof and outer edge 24 is vertical whenpositioned at an uppermost point 9. Further, a circumference guide 7A isdisposed all around the entire circumference of the rotating disk 4C anda guide member 22 is disposed on an inside surface of the circumferenceguide 7A for vertically supporting a screw 5 in the accommodating hole6A.

Owing to the forms of the rotating disk 4C and the circumference guide7A, a screw 5 fitted in an accommodating hole 6 located to the uppermostpoint 9 is kept in its vertical attitude. In correspondence to thisattitude of the screw 5, an adsorbing head 12 is disposed verticallyover the screw 5.

A driving method for the rotating disk 4C, and motions to arrange andtake out the screw 5 remain unchanged from those in the first embodimentand will not be described in particular.

When the rotating disk 4C is rotatingly driven in the two normal andreverse directions at short cycles as described above, parts can bearranged in a short time and a time required for an entire work such asassembly or machining can be shortened. When the screw 5 which is fittedin the accommodating hole 6 positioned to the uppermost point 9 is keptin its vertical attitude owing to the forms of the rotating disk 4 andthe circumference guide 7A, and the screw 5 is vertically adsorbed andtaken out by the adsorbing head 12, the screw 5 can be handled withoutfail and a working efficiency can be enhanced.

Though the accommodating holes 6 are arranged in a row along thecircumference of the rotating disk 4 in each of the first through thirdembodiment described above, it is possible to dispose the accommodatingholes 6 in a plurality of concentric rows as indicated by imaginarylines in FIG. 2 so that a large number of the screws 13 can fit into theaccommodating holes 6 by a cycle of driving motion, thereby enhancing anefficiency. In this case, it is necessary to dispose the proximitysensor 11 so as to oppose to each row of the accommodating holes 6 anduse a mechanism to displace the adsorbing head 12 in the radialdirection.

We claim:
 1. A parts arranger comprising:a rotating disk which has partaccommodating holes for accommodating parts disposed in acircumferential row or a plurality of concentric rows and is supportedin a condition inclined at a predetermined angle relative to ahorizontal plane; and a circumference guide which is disposedperpendicularly to a surface of said rotating disk, characterized inthat said parts arranger comprises a driving source which rotatinglydrives said rotating disk at a predetermined angle in a normal directionand then at a predetermined angle in a reverse direction.
 2. A partsarranger according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe partaccommodating holes of said rotating disk are disposed at apredetermined pitch angle.
 3. A parts arranger according to claim 2,characterized in thatsaid rotating disk is rotatingly driven by saiddriving source in the normal direction at a first multiple of said pitchangle for the part accommodating holes and then in the reverse directionat a second multiple smaller than said first multiple of said pitchangle.
 4. A parts arranger according to claim 2, characterized inthatsaid rotating disk is rotatingly driven by said driving source ineach of the normal and reverse directions, at the first multiple of saidpitch angle for the part accommodating holes and in the normal directionthen at a second multiple of said pitch angle.
 5. A parts arrangeraccording to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid rotating disk is rotatedin a plurality of turns by said driving source until each of the partaccommodating holes attains to a feeding point for feeding parts and ispositioned thereto.
 6. A parts arranger according to claim 1,characterized in thatsaid parts arranger comprises a sensor fordetecting presence or absence of a part in the accommodating holepositioned to a feeding point for feeding parts and, when absence of thepart is detected, rotates the rotating disk until the sensor detectspresence of the part.
 7. A parts arranger according to claim 1,characterized in thatsaid rotating disk is made of an elastic materialhaving a restoring force, and said parts arranger comprises a memberwhich deforms said rotating disk so as to have a horizontal portion at afeeding point for feeding parts.
 8. A parts arranger according to claim1, characterized in thatsaid rotating disk is composed of an arc-shapedmember which has a horizontal tangential line at a portion of theaccommodating hole located at a feeding point for feeding parts.
 9. Aparts arranger according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid rotatingdisk has part accommodating holes which are formed as notches open on aside of an outer circumference, and that a guide member is disposed allaround a circumference guide for vertically supporting parts fitted insaid notches.